Coated pill, &amp;c.



Patented Apr. 9, I90L n vantoz f regge f 4 0019/7 MQW N RIS PETERS CO.. PNDTGLITHD.. WAIMINGTON, D. L

(No Model) Wihwooe /l Vfg/f UNITED STATES FREDERICK H. METCALF,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS.

COATED PILL, Sac.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 671,804, dated April 9, 1901. Original application filed December 2, 1899, Serial No. 738,993. Divided and this application filed May 28, 1900. Serial fication.

This invention relates to improvements in coated pills, tablets, lozenges, and the like, and forms part of a divisional application filed December 2, 1899, Serial No. 738,993, allowed May 2, 1900, and patented under No. 650,760.

One object of this improvement is to mix with the coating used in the manufacture of coated pills a sulcient quantity of pepsin to quickly dissolve said coating and make the medicine which is incased more susceptible to the digestive organs when taken into the stomach.

A further object of the improvement is to mix a sufficient quantity of pepsin with the coating for pills when said coating consists primarily of gelatin so as to assist the stornach to quickly and readily digest the coating to permit the exposure of the incased medical compound to the digestive organs.

Many other objects and advantages will be apparent upon further description.

In the drawiri gs forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a sectional view of a pill, showing my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a pill as a whole, composed of any suitable medical compound 2 and provided with a coating 3. Mixed with the coating is a sufficient quantity of pepsin or other digestive agent 4.

In the manufacture of pills, tablets, or lozenges for certain reasons it is necessary to provide a coating. In some cases this coating is composed of a mixture which is not readily susceptible to the digestive organs of the stomach; and it is the purpose and objectY of this invention to introduce in its composition a sucient quantity of pepsin so asto enable the stomach to readily 'and quickly reduce the coating and expose the incased medical compound. The coatings for pills, as

(No model.)

before stated, are largely made up of a gelatinous substance, and it is well known this substance is exceedingly difficult to digest, and it not infrequently occurs that a gelatincoated pill absolutely refuses to be subjected to the digestive organs and juices of the stomach, and as a result the pill is taken without any curative result.

While I am aware that the coating of pills is largely gelatin, I am also aware of other substances being used equally as hard to digest and propose to mix pepsin with my coating solution used for pills.

The pepsin is applied to the pill, tablet, or lozenge preferably when the coating is ina liquid state. However, a separate compartment may be made, as disclosed in Fig. 2. In this modification the pepsin is contained between two layers of coating, the outer one of which is thinner than the inner, so much so as to not be a barrier to the juices.

In many cases I may apply enough pepsin to not only reduce the coating around the pill, but to coact with the compound incased within the coating and assist in its digestion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl l. As a new article of manufacture, a pill, tablet or lozenge provided with a gelatinous coating, said coating having pepsin distributed throughout its composition to assist the digestion of said'coating and the rapid liberation of the compound forming the pill, whereby the juices of the stomach, may have immediate action on said compound, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a pill, tablet or lozenge, provided with a gelatinous coating having pepsin uniformly distributed throughout its composition to assist the digestion of said coating and the rapid liberation of the compound forming the pill, whereby the juices of the stomach may have immediate action on said compound, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK H. METOALF. Witnesses:

CHARLES A. BARNES, LENA C. ENGEL. 

